Leak-detector for oil-well casings.



FIPFSOll XP 1.9?04397?? J. GILMORE.

LEAK DETCIOR FOR OiL WELL CASlNGS. APPLICATION man MN. 3*, uns.

- 1,200,722. Patented oet. 10,1916.

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i www-aging i UNITES STATES ATENT @FFIQE y JOSEPH GIL'IOBE, OF MEAD TOVNSHIP, WARREN COUNTY,'PENNSYLVANIA.

LEAK-DETECTOR FOB OIL-WELL CASINGS; d

ject of the invention being to provide aV contrivance of this class having an alarm operated automatically when lowered into the casing tothe level of a leak therein.

lVith this general object in view, the invention resides in certain novelvfeatures or A: construction and'in-unique combinations of v:parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented byk the accompanying drawing' which constitutes a part of this specifica* Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device showing its application. to use in an oil well casing; and Fig. 2 isl an enlarged vertical section of the dam and signaling members. In specically scribed, similar characters will be placed on corresponding parts throughout the severalY views and reference will be herein made to the numerous elements by their respective indices. To this end. the numeral lfdesignatesthe usual cylindrical casing of an oil well, such casing being adapted to prevent the entrance ofwwater into the well proper.' It oftenV happens, however` that leaks such as that illustrated at 2 in Fig. l occur, thereby allowing water to enter the well. It is to discover the location of these leaks that the present invention is designed. In the attainment of this end, I provide a dam member 3 and a signaling member 4 adapted to be lowered into the casing l by a metal measuring line or the like 5, said dam member being designed to check the downward flow of water from the leak 2 and to cause it to drip upon a diaphragm carried' by the member fl. Since all parts of the device;A are formed of vibratory metal, the sound caused Specification of Letters Patent.

describing the construction shown in the drawings above briefly de Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application led January 3, 1916. Serial No. 70,006. l

by this dripping of water will be transmitted to the upper end of the well, thus signifying that the device has been lowered to vthe level of the leak. By reference to the measuring line 5, the operator may now ascertain exactly the amount of casing to be removed in order to repair the damaged part thereof.

The member 3 is shown inthe form of a metallic cylinder open at its upper end and having said end bent first inwardly at 6 to forni an annular internal liange, thelatterV being then bent upward and outwardly tov form an additional annular flange 7, a pliable packing ring 8 having its inner edge clamped between the two flanges as seen clearly in Fig. 2, said ring being adapted to lightly contact with the casing l as the device is lowered therein. The lower endof the cylinder forming the member 3 is closed yby a bottom 9i having perforations 10 dis# posed' at eccentric points.' The line be' connected in anyA preferred manner to the member 3, but the latter is preferably provided with a bail l1 to which said line is detachably connected by a snap. hook or the like l2.

Secured to the center vof the bottom 9 inany preferred manner, is the upper end of a supplemental metallic line 13, the lower end ogfsaid line being shown as secured to an eye 14 at the'crown of a bail l5 vwhich-rises from the member This member is shown o inay in tlie'form of a metallic cylinder having an phragm to be vibrated by dripping4 of water y from'the perforations 10(v When using the device, it is lowered by, means of the line 5 in to the casing l'and the moment the packing ring 8 reaches a level slightly below a leak Q, the downward flow of Water from such leak will be checked, the result being that this water will drip slowly from the perforations l0 into the member Il onto the diaphragm lof the latter, said diaphragm being thus vibrated. Obviously, since the entire apparatus is constructed of vibratory metal. sound vibrations will now be transmitted from said diaphragm to the top of the well, thus allowing the operator to ascertain that the level of the leak has been detected. By now referring to the graduations on the line 5, he may. ascertain. A

the exact amount of casing to be removed,

and with this information at hand, the trouble may be-easily rectified. '4

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the. accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of operation and numerous advantages of the improveddei ice will be readily understood without requiring aimoreextended explanation. In conclusion, however, I wish to state that although certain specific details have been shown for illustrative purposes, numerous changes may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

p I. claim 1. leak detector for oil well casings comprising a suspending member tobe lowered into the casing, and a signaling device onA said suspending member adapted to be'opi erated by falling water from a leak in the casing.- y

2. A. leak detector for oil well casings,

comprising a suspending member to be low ered into the casing, and a signaling diaphragm on said suspendinginember adapted to be vibratedby falling` water. from a leak in the casing.

A. leak detector for oil. well casings comprising a dam having a. suspendingY member whereby itinay. be lowered into'the casing to check the downward flow of water from a leali:v therein, said dam being constructed to allow water to drip therefroim.

andan alarm operatedv by such dripping of water.

4. AL. leak. detector for oil well casings structed to allow water to drip therefrom,

and `a signaling diaphragmV upony which such water is adapted to drip.

6. A leak detector for oil well casings comprising a dam'. having a suspending member whereby it may be lowered into the casing to check the downward flow of water from a leak therein, said dam being consti-acted to allow water to drip therefrom, and a signaling diaphragm spaced below and suspended from the dam whereby such water may drip thereon.

7. A leak detector for oil welllcasings comprising a vibratory cylinder. having. asuspending member whereby it may be lowered into the casing, said cylinder. having anv open upper end provided wit-han outstanding packing ring to yieldably engage the cas-4 65 ing, while the lower end of said cylinder. is closed and perforated to allow water to-.dripz therefrom, a supplemental suspending niember depending from the cylinder, anda sig#l Y naling diaphragm on the lower end of said 70 supplemental. suspending. member Y tobe -vibrated by dripping of water. from;tliep erforations in the lower endof the cylinder.

8. A leak detector. for oil well; casings.

comprising a vibratory cylinder having` af suspending member whereby itv may be lowered into the casing,.s aid cylinder having an open Lipper end provided'witli an outstand- Ving packing ring to yieldably engage the casing, while. tlielower, end ofsaid cylinder.

is closed and perforated to allow water toE drip. therefrom, a supplemental suspending member depending from the cylinder, a second vibratory cylinder on the lowerend of.v -Y said supplemental suspending member, said cylinder having an open upper endandaf solid lower end to be vibi'ated bydripping ofi water thereon from the. perforations inthe..-A

bottoin of the first named cylinder.- rv

In testimony whereof I.have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing vv-ita@V nesses.

JOSEPH GILMORE. lVitnesses:

Lesioni, BRADDOCK Sonor-inrit),- LEAH B. MAIN.

Copiesnf this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing, the C'ommis'sioner of,Patent's,.

.Y Washington, D. C. 

